OFCOM publications

 Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0900z. So far today, local G4KPX (14km) and OE3XOE (1233km) and IV3DXW (1200km) have spotted me.

UPDATE 1410z:  9 unique stations have spotted me.

Herbaceous Border - NOT amateur radio

This was the herbaceous garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. The border displays look wonderful, if short lived. We will blink and the herbaceous garden will be closed and looking dead. They will be tended and look good again next year.

8m QRP FT8 yesterday

Yesterday was probably my most successful Es day on 8m FT8 with 7 stations spotting my 2.5W FT8 to the low wire dipole. If the propagation is there, it would seem this power is sufficient.

UPDATE 1249z:  Interestingly, I think every time I have ventured on to 8m FT8 this Es season somebody has spotted me. Maybe not at first, but over the day.

Sunspots - Friday June 24th 2023

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 194.  A=9 and K=1.

Garden Room - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to have two reception rooms. When it's hot (like now!) we choose the coolest. In the morning this is the garden room at the back of the house. 

The photo shows the view looking from a chair in the garden room. 

OFCOM consulting on the future of amateur radio - IMPORTANT!!

 OFCOM is consulting on the future of amateur radio and is seeking views. If you have views it is important you read the proposals and give your feedback.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/263181/consultation-amateur-radio-review.pdf .

Amateur radio cartoon

This was sent to me by Steve G1KQH. I have no idea where it originated. Made me laugh! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 My QRP W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0820z. Already spotted by stations in Hungary and Sweden.

UPDATE 1020z:  Already spotted by 15 unique stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on about 0820z. Already my 2.5W has been spotted strongly by EA3ERE (1153km).

UPDATE 1437z:   4 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Friday June 23rd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 176. A=8 and K=2.

Bee on vetch - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo earlier today at Anglesey Abbey. 

Rally on Sunday

The following rally has been notified to me. Please check details first.

Sun June 25th - Newbury Radio Rally. RG18 9QZ. Contact details not given.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Turned on the 8m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast as Hugh in Portugal tells me England starting to come through.

UPDATE 1010z: No spots. 

UPDATE 1613z:  Spots of my QRP have been received from Spain and Slovenia today.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at breakfast time.

UPDATE 0738z: Already 4 unique stations have spotted me today. 

Thurlestone Devon yesterday - NOT amateur radio

My brother took the picture yesterday. We lived near here. 

Sunspots - Thursday June 22nd 2023

Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 190. A=8 and K=1. 

PYO strawberries - NOT amateur radio

This was my wife picking strawberries this morning. She has made a crumble with some. 

East Anglian skies - NOT amateur radio

This part of England (East Anglia) is famous for being flat. As a compensation, we get some amazing skies. This was when we had a storm recently.

10m WSPR TX 500mW (Wednesday)

Just after 1100z, my 10m, 500mW, WSPR TX beacon was turned on. At 1115z,  5 unique stations have spotted me. 

8m FT8 (Wednesday)

Just after 1100z, my 2.5W FT8 was turned on. It is now 1107z and, so far, no spots. It looks like there are more monitors active.

UPDATE 1352z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1617z:  My QRP has been spotted by stations in Spain and Poland. It looks like HC02 in Portugal also got me, but this was not reported on PSKreporter.

Plans for today (Wednesday)

 As long as there are no storms nearby, my plan is to go on 8m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon that does not need the PC.

Actually, I have gone off 4m: there is almost no activity that I could find outside the Es season and what is possible when there is Es is now known. I was actually expecting the band to be quite good inter-G at all times, but activity is even lower than 2m. If you are considering 4m, prepare for disappointment.

"Our" windmill this morning - NOT amateur radio

This was the windmill next door this morning in the sunshine. 

No adverts?

After the news of some UK dealers merging, I checked RadCom and PW for dealer adverts.  MLS have many pages whereas Nevada had none in RadCom. Also, Waters and Stanton had none in RadCom.

They all had ads in PW. Moonraker was advertising in RadCom. I presume the costs are lower in PW?

Which dealers will be around in 2030?

Caveat Emptor.  Buyer beware!

Sunspots - Wednesday June 21st 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 155. A=10 and K=2. 

Fight to the death?

My spy Steve G1KQH tells me 3 dealers are merging. These are Nevada, Moonraker and Waters and Stanton. I expect this is an attempt to compete with MLS. 

One consequence will be fewer dealers advertising in magazines. Expect fierce battles to win trade. Either Nevada runs pages of adverts or it will be curtains for Practical Wireless (PW).

The next few years are critical for the Amateur Radio Service. How many amateur radio magazines will there be in future? I am not sure of the situation in other countries, but here in the UK, there is just one independent amateur radio monthly magazine. I think this is struggling.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

For about 30 minutes I have been on 8m FT8. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1829z: No spots. It look like the Es fairies are on strike.

UPDATE 2100z: Two late spots from Poland of my QRP on 8m FT8. I was not expecting this. Not a single day has passed this summer without my 8m QRP FT8 being spotted somewhere in Europe by Es.

FT8

Many people prefer to chat with people and FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode!  There is a variation called JS8CALL that allows keyboard chats. 

Neither of these can compete with actual SSB, FM or AM conversations. FT8 seems to be like a certain yeast spread in that people either love it or hate it. In my case (with a poor voice) FT8 has been my saviour. I appreciate this is not the case for many.

What FT8 is really good for is working DXCC stations and sniffing out brief openings. The actual space taken up by an FT8 signal is narrow at about 50 Hz. It also works with signals weaker than CW. It occupies just a few kilohertz of spectrum and it is well monitored. Software is free.  Transmissions last just 15 seconds, so very brief openings are unlikely to be missed. This is especially useful on bands like 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m and 2m  especially at times of low sunspot activity. Especially on N-S paths it is my view that the higher HF bands are open far more frequently than we think. The main issue is a lack of activity.

In summary, FT8 has its uses. It is no substitute for voice modes, but definitely has its place.

Es in Europe

Things are getting better, but the Es is mostly in Eastern Europe.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

4m FT8 (Tuesday)

Today, I have decided to concentrate on 4m FT8 with about 10W to my 8m wire dipole matched via the auto ATU in my FT-710. It is now 0814z and, so far, just 1 G near Brighton has been spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me.

UPDATE 0823z: Unchanged. Es does not look good so far.

UPDATE 0837z: Spotted by G0TSM (186km).

UPDATE 1050z:   I have been spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost 9A3TN (1481km) and I have spotted 6 stations. There is Es about.

UPDATE 1524z:  After 11 spots (some Es) I am QRT on 4m and back on 8m FT8. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Spots so far from a local and Italy.

UPDATE 0922z: 10 stations have spotted me, mostly Es.

UPDATE 1044z:  19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1923z:   35 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR today. An HA just spotted me after over 4 quiet hours.

UPDATE 2121z:   39 stations have spotted me.

More Google Crappery? - NOT amateur radio

This came today. Whatever is "a property"? They mention this elsewhere.

" You can now link your new Google Analytics 4 properties to AdSense to get a holistic view of your monetisation...."

Haven't clue what they are talking about (again) but so pleased I can now get a holistic view!! 😉

Sunspots - Tuesday June 20th 2023

Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 181.  A=10 and K=2.

4m FT8

Starting tomorrow, I intend to concentrate on 4m FT8. Even with my compromised antenna, matched using the auto ATU in the FT-710, much of Europe should be in range by Es. It could be fun. I shall probably run 10W, maybe less.

Exile? - NOT amateur radio

Since 1970 I have lived happily in Cambridgeshire. I like where I live. We have a nice house and good friends.

Yet a part of me still yearns for where I come from in South Devon.  If I ever moved back I know it would not be the same. People have moved on or died and my memories of the place could not be replaced. 

It is extremely unlikely that I would move back. Instead I go back for a boost most years. Perhaps this is for the best: happy memories.

10m Lesser Chirpy

These days, many people prefer FT8 or WSPR for QRP. However, it is fun to see where an ultra-simple rig can reach. This has been on before, but with Es so good, it will certainly get all over Europe. As with all simple circuits, it is a compromise.

Although I find it hard to believe, this circuit dates back to 2012!  It is an ultra-simple CW transceiver for 10m. It is capable of improvement, I am sure. Mine was made "dead bug" style.  You can always use the reverse beacon network to see where you are reaching.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-lesser-chirpy

SPAM - NOT amateur radio

My mail provider does a pretty good job of filtering SPAM messages out. Just occasionally (maybe 1 in 1000) it puts things in the SPAM folder that is not SPAM, so I try to check before deleting SPAM for good. If I have not replied to an email, it went in SPAM and I missed it. Do not be afraid to send it again! Usually I respond within 24 hours.

Recently, my most common SPAM is "unable to deliver package" or similar. If you just confirm your details we can send you the package (and no doubt send you a nasty virus as a free bonus!!). Thankfully, SPAM is not an issue.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Es looks promising. 

My 8m FT8 gear (2.5W) was turned at about 0755z. So far, at 0813z, no spots.

UPDATE 1053z: Spots received from HC02 (1808km) and IU8CNE (1626km).

UPDATE 1921z: 3 stations spotted my 2.5W 8m QRP FT8 today.  On the whole, I am still being spotted by the same stations. Where is everyone? I was hoping many more would be on this Es season. Sadly, with a few exceptions, this is not the case.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0755z. So far, just spots from local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1321z: 35 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP so far today.

UPDATE 1344z: It is amazing just how strong signals via Es can be. Today, for example, one German station reported my 500mW at +5dB S/N. If his background noise was low, he would probably have received me at 0.5mW. My antenna is nothing special. Raising it a bit higher and with a CB beam I could probably raise my signal by 10dB. So he would probably have spotted me if I was using just 50uW!

UPDATE 1902z:  37 unique stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 2002z:  38 stations have spotted me today on QRP 10m WSPR.

Sunspots - Monday June 19th 2023

Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 133.  A=10 and K=2.

8m disappointment

Compared with last summer, there would seem to be fewer stations transmitting on 8m. Many who are active know they can be spotted across Europe and far further by F2. It is also true that many may legally operate at 8m without a licence as long as applicable ISM rules are met. In the UK this means 10mW ERP. If this continues (low TX activity) I may go QRT on 8m until the autumn. 

Father's Day - NOT amateur radio

Today was Father's Day in the UK. I was bought a nice bottle of wine by one of my son's as the photo shows. 

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Although I have been active since this morning, nothing has appeared on PSKreporter. HC02 (1808km) in Portugal says he has spotted me for over 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1658z: Just HC02 (1808km) spotting me today.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

Stations spotting me to 1415z Sunday

Yesterday 10m was dreadful with no spots at all. 

Today is much better with 14 unique stations spotting my 500mW QRP WSPR beacon.  Several of these have copied me very strongly.

UPDATE 1656z: 17 spots so far. The Es seems to have diminished, but I am being spotted by F2.

Sunspots - Sunday June 18th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 110. A=8 and K =2.

Old friend - NOT amateur radio

We have just returned home from near Hereford where we stayed with an old school friend of my wife. The photo shows my wife with one of our hosts.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)

Since returning home mid afternoon, I have been on 10m QRP WSPR TX. So far, no spots which surprises me. 

Return to 8m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

As you may have realised, I have been away for a few days. 

On my return I have been on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 with my 2.5W and a low wire dipole. A couple of spots from Spain. I shall go QRT at bedtime. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 17th 2023

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 120. A=38 and K=2.

Hay on Wye - NOT amateur radio

Hay is right on the boundary between Wales and England. It is famous for its bookshops. The last time I was in Hay was at least 12 years ago. Happily despite the pandemic, it seems much the same.